Tag Archives: Bagnols en Foret

The Pays de Fayence is made up of 9 villages, all perched up on the top of hills.

Each village has its own unique character and all have plenty to explore offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

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Our favourite parts of the area include:

Bagnols-en-Foret – enjoy the forest and the gorges!

Bagnols-en-Foret is on the edge of the Pays de Fayence and as its name suggest it is surrounded by beautiful forests.

It is perched 300 metres up in the foothills of the Esterel.

The volcanic range known as the Esterel is full of peaks, ravines and gorges which give much interest to any walk in the area. The magic of the rock formation and never-ending changes in the colour of the hills accentuate some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

You can also visit the Gorges of the Blavet river. This hidden area is perfect for rock-climbing of all abilities, although make sure you use a guide that knows the area well.

There are also 11 walks ranging in difficulty that start at Bagnols-en-Foret.

Visit the office du tourisme for a guide book detailing all the roots.

One of the interesting places in the gorges is the Grotto de Meuron.

This historic grotto is situated at the foot of one of the numerous cliffs in the Blavet Gorges.

The entrance is very wide and goes deep into the rock, thus providing a good refuge in case of heavy thunderstorms.

The nearby water and the surrounding forest (for its wood), its south-facing aspect, as well as its dominating view of the whole valley made it an ideal place for setting up camp during the Bronze Age.

Mons en Provence – enjoy the view!

Built on a high plateau Mons en Provence is peaceful and not too crowded even in the busier summer months.

The village originally was part of the principality of Callian in the 11th century and was then a stronghold of the Villeneuve family up until the Revolution. The remains of the feudal castle and some of its original walls can still be seen.

You can wander through the alleys and admire the old stone-built houses and finish at the large terraces of the Place Saint Sebastien.

It is here that a visit to this village becomes the most worthwhile as there is a fantastic panoramic view from the square allowing you to see from Cannes all the way to St Tropez and on a clear day you can even see as far as Corsica.

Lac du Saint Cassien

The lake was created in 1966 and is the result of the construction of the dam on the Biançon river, a tributary of the Siagne, on the border between the Var and Alpes Maritimes departments.

The role of the dam is mainly to produce electricity but also to provide water to the inhabitants of the Var and the west of the Alpes-Maritimes. It also plays an important role in flood control.

In one part of the lake you can find La Reserve de Fondurance, an area of wetland where birds nest in the winter and is now a nominated biological reserve which covers 43 hectares.

This beautiful natural area offers an ideal setting for hiking or cycling.

The lac is also popular for swimming in the summer and there are a variety of water sports including a sailing club and pedalos which are a great way to escape the heat and enjoy this lovely area.

It can be easily reached from Montaroux by bike and it is a great way to explore the area.

If you would like to explore any of the 9 perched villages of the pays de fayence, cycling is a great way to get around. They are all quite hilly but the views from the top are always breathtaking and well worth the cycle up!

If you are interested in discovering this beautiful area please get in touch with Nick at Bike Hire Direct Var.

Not only can we provide you with high-quality, good value bike hire but we are happy to recommend cycle routes and areas to visit as well. We love our region and hope that you will too!

There are lots of events and things to do across Var throughout November and December – read on for what will be in our diary over the next couple of months…

For the food-lover! Fête de l’Huile, Sainte-Maxime

In Sainte-Maxime on the 16th, 17th and 18th of November, the traditional Fete de l’Huile takes place.

This traditional festival marks the arrival of the new olive oil and there are a series of events over the weekend.

Over the weekend you can see demonstrations of the crushing of the olives and the production of the oil, as well as guided tours of the olive groves and of course, lots of tasting.

For the motor racing enthusiast! Rallye de Var 22nd to 25th November

The Rallye de Var runs from November 22nd to November 25th . This rally starts in Sainte-Maxime and this year it will be the 64th Rally and the 9th round of the 2018 French Rally Championship.

There is a test session on the Thursday afternoon and then the three stages run over the next three days. The circuit is 215km and makes several loops in the Massif des Maures so there are lots of great viewing places around the circuit.

The loops are all time trials so expect lots of excitement and competitiveness between the drivers!

For the walkers! Balade Pédestre au Rocher de Roquebrune 25th November

The red rocks that tower above Roquebrune sur Argens are known to be a place of great natural beauty but are best discovered by attending a guided walk as the terrain can be rough and rugged and a guide can show you the best way up to the top.

This guided walk takes place on the 25th November – further details can be obtained from the local Roquebrune office de tourisme.

For the wine-lovers! La 37e Fête du Millésime – Bandol

This traditional festival takes place the first Saturday in December each year and it marks a celebration of the new vintage of the AOC Bandol.

There is a gala evening and dinner on the 30th November, celebrations in the domains, restaurants and cellars of Bandol on the Saturday and lot of events throughout the city of Bandol on Sunday December 2nd.

A great way to discover and taste some new wines and discover this beautiful city!

For Christmas lovers!

There are a huge number of Chrismas markets throughout the Var running during November and December.

Some of our favourite one day events include: Marche de Noel – Chateau de Berne 24th Nov; 8th Dec in Bagnols en foret and 9th Dec in Fayence.

For longer events, you can find the traditional Christmas market and village in Toulon which is open all day every day from 21st November until the end of December.

Or you can visit the stunning Christmas village in Cannes which offers a huge range of things to do and see. This is really magical and will really get you into the Christmas spirit as well as giving you a perfect excuse to visit this famous city on the Cote d’Azur.

For bike lovers… or just for anyone looking for the perfect way to explore the Var…

If you are visiting the region over the autumn and winter season, there is always lots to see and do and of course, lots of great cycle tracks to discover… If you would like to explore by cycle we are open all year around. Please get in touch with Nick.